# CVE-2026-72401: bpf: Fix insn_aux_data leak on verifier err_free_env path

> A memory leak in the Linux kernel BPF verifier allows local attackers to cause denial of service by exhausting kernel memory.

- **Severity:** Not scored
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 15 Aug 2026
- **Updated:** 17 Aug 2026
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2026-72401, GHSA-f5wx-qgf8-mmv9, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-72401

## What is CVE-2026-72401?

CVE-2026-72401 is a memory corruption vulnerability in Linux, published on 15 Aug 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

bpf: Fix insn_aux_data leak on verifier err_free_env path

When bpf_check() allocates env->insn_aux_data successfully but later
fails to allocate env->succ, it jumps directly to err_free_env.

The existing vfree(env->insn_aux_data) sits before the err_free_env
label, so that direct jump bypasses it and leaks insn_aux_data.

Move vfree(env->insn_aux_data) into err_free_env so all early and late
exit paths release it consistently.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-72401?


## How do I fix CVE-2026-72401?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2026-72401 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-72401 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-72401 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-72401 is a memory corruption vulnerability in Linux, published on 15 Aug 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-72401 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Linux. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-72401/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-72401/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-72401
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-72401
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-72401

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-72401/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.